United News of Bangladesh

A court in Pabna on Monday rejected the bail plea of former deputy speaker and MP from Pabna-1, Shamsul Haque Tuku, in a case under the Speedy Trial Act related to extortion charges. Senior Judicial Magistrate Mostfijur Rahman issued the order on Monday, said Rashidul Islam, inspector of the Pabna court. Tuku was presented in court under tight security, and his appearance was met with protests by agitating students from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. They threw shoes and eggs at his car while chanting slogans demanding his trial. Mirza Mehedi Hasan, a businessman from Birsalikhar in Bera, filed a case in the Pabna court on November 6 under the Speedy Trial Act. Mehedi Hasan alleged that Tuku, along with several associates, extorted money and seized his land and market on May 6, 2014. Apart from Tuku, 11 people including his brother former municipal mayor Abdul Baten and Tuku's son former municipal mayor Asif Shams Ranjan were accused in the case. A chargesheet was submitted to the court on November 24 of last year.

A proposal to build four extended female student halls at an estimated cost of Tk 2,841.86 crore has been sent to the government for approval, as part of urgent steps to address the accommodation crisis for female students at Dhaka University. This information was confirmed by the university's public relations office on Monday evening. The announcement states that if the project is approved, arrangements will be made for the accommodation of nearly 3,000 female students. Additionally, the proposed Bangladesh-China Friendship Hall Construction Project, costing 244 crore taka with financial assistance from the Chinese government, is currently awaiting approval from the ministry. On Monday, the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, reaffirmed China's commitment to supporting the construction of female student hostels during an event at the university. The announcement further mentions that under Dhaka University’s broader development project, the proposed construction of four extended female student hostels with an estimated cost of 2,841.86 crore taka is in progress. The project includes the demolition of Shahnewaz Hostel to build a 15-story female student hostel, the construction of two expansion buildings (10-story and 6-story) for Shamsun Nahar Hall, the demolition of staff quarters B and D at the Leather Engineering and Technology Institute to build a combined 11-story and 8-story female student hostel, and the expansion of Kuwait-maitree Hall into a 10-story building. The Dhaka University administration is taking multifaceted steps with utmost sincerity and working tirelessly to resolve the accommodation crisis for female students, as mentioned in the announcement. Despite the university's budget deficit, about 500 bunk beds have already been installed in various hostels on a priority basis through special allocations, providing accommodation for several female students. For the first time in the university's history, accommodation has been arranged for female students in the first year undergraduate program following a transparent process and system, which is considered an extraordinary achievement compared to previous times. Furthermore, it is mentioned that solving such a complex, long-standing issue as an accommodation crisis overnight is not possible. However, the university administration hopes that with the collaboration of the UGC, the relevant government ministries, friendly countries, development partners, and students, the accommodation crisis can be resolved within a reasonable time. Additionally, the introduction of accommodation scholarships for students under the World Bank's HEAT Project (Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation Project) is also in progress. It is expected that students enrolling in the undergraduate program in the upcoming academic year will be eligible for this scholarship.

A Srajganj court has sent former Fisheries and Livestock minister Abdul Latif Biswas to jail in connection with a case regarding the killing of 15 policemen at Enayetpur Police Station in Sirajganj on August 4, last year. Sirajganj Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Mohammad Bellal Hossain sent the former minister to jail on Sunday night, said Sirajganj Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Faruk Hossain. Two arrested in connection with attack on Faruk Hasan Earlier, Latif, also a former president of Sirajganj district Awami League president, was detained during a joint force operation in Kamarpur, Belkuchi municipality, around 2pm on Sunday. He was later taken to Sirajganj and shown arrested in the case, said SP Faruk. Earlier on August 4 last year, Enayetpur Police Station in Sirajganj was attacked, vandalised, set on fire, and 15 policemen were killed. Tabligh clash: Public University teachers demand judicial inquiry, present 9 proposals Later, Sub-Inspector (SI) Abdul Malek of the police station filed a case, naming Enayetpur Awami League unit President Ahmed Mostafa Khan Bachchu, General Secretary Azgar Ali, Khukni UP Chairman and former Union Awami League President Mulluk Chand, Bhangbari UP Chairman Zahurul Bhuiyan, along with 5,000 to 6,000 unidentified individuals as accused.

Shahbagh police have arrested two individuals in connection with the assault on Faruk Hasan, spokesperson of the Gono Odhikar Parishad. The arrests were made on Sunday night at the National Institute of Ophthalmology in Dhaka. The arrested individuals have been identified as Korban Sheikh, also known as Hillol, aged 35, and Md Sharif, aged 27. 3 to die for killing EUB student Jisan The attack took place on Saturday during a public event organized by the National Revolutionary Council at the Central Shaheed Minar. Faruk Hasan, who was addressing the gathering, was allegedly assaulted during his speech. In the aftermath, Faruk went live on Facebook, claiming that members of Chhatra Dal were behind the attack. DMP files 3,164 cases for traffic rule violations in 2 days According to Shahbagh Police Inspector (Investigation) Asaduzzaman, the two accused were found receiving medical treatment at the National Institute of Ophthalmology. They had been implicated in a case filed over the attack on Faruk, who also serves as the senior vice-president of Gono Odhikar Parishad. Acting on a tip-off, the police took swift action to apprehend the suspects from the hospital.

Case documents(CDs) of 1,911 cases have reportedly gone missing from the Chattogram court. The matter came to light after the Public Prosecutor (PP) of Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan filed a general diary (GD) at the Kotwali Police Station on Monday. Lawyers said these case documents are crucial for proving guilts and their disappearance could severely impede justice. Ex-AL Minister Abdul Latif Biswas arrested in Sirajganj According to court sources, the office of the Metropolitan PP is located on the third floor of the Chattogram court building, adjacent to the sessions judge's courtroom and other judicial chambers. The missing case documents were stored in plastic bags along the veranda outside the PP’s office due to space constraints. These documents, belonging to 28 to 30 courts, were kept there on April 24, 2023. The documents might have gone missing during the court's holiday recess between December 13 and December 31, 2024. ACC files 3 cases against ex-PSC driver, family over graft District Bar Association President Mohammad Nazim Uddin Chowdhury said without these files, cases risk delays or even collapse. PP Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan termed the disappearance a serious breach of security. “This is no trivial matter. Those responsible for removing these files must be identified. It’s possible that defendants may have planned this to gain undue advantage in their cases,” he said.

Teachers from Dhaka University, BUET, Jagannath University, and other public universities in Dhaka have called for a judicial investigation into the December 18, 2024, clash between two factions of the Tabligh Jamaat in Tongi. This demand was made today during a press conference held at the National Press Club’s Abdus Salam Hall. Professor Nazimuddin Bhuiyan, of the Accounting and Information Systems Department at Dhaka University, read out a written statement and later presented nine proposals to resolve the ongoing issues between the Tabligh factions. The proposals put forward are: Take steps to resolve the ideological differences between the conflicting groups, ensuring religious freedom for all. Conduct a judicial inquiry into the December 18 incident in Tongi to uncover the truth and punish the guilty individuals. Release all innocent detainees arrested in connection with the incident.Allow both factions to carry out their activities with the involvement of their senior leaders. Ensure equal time distribution for both factions at the Kakrail Mosque, with one month for each group. Divide the Tongi Ijtema grounds equally for both factions, giving each group six months (January-June; July-December), allocating five-day slots for Ijtema and other religious activities. Ensure equal distribution of time for activities at other mosques across the country, with a 15-day rotation for each faction. Prevent any faction from obstructing the other’s activities at mosques, enforcing strict monitoring and legal action if necessary. Take necessary measures to ensure the smooth and orderly holding of Mawlana Saad’s Ijtema from February 7 to 9, 2025, as previously scheduled. The press conference was attended by former Dhaka University Professor Manjurul Haque, Associate Professor Dr. Asif Monirul Islam of the International Business Department at Dhaka University, Dr. Shafiul Bari, and Associate Professor Dr. Sultan Ahmed from BUET, Associate Professor Dr. A N M Asaduzzaman Fakir from the Accounting and Information Systems Department at Jagannath University.

Bangladesh Supreme Court has launched another helpline number to provide quick and smooth judicial services and to address complaints and suggestions from the people. The new number is +88 01795373680. The helpline operates from 10am to 4pm, Sunday to Thursday, except on public holidays. An officer from the Supreme Court Registry is available during these hours to offer help and guidance. Service seekers are now encouraged to use this new number, along with the existing helpline, to report any issues or offer suggestions. Govt appoints four prosecutors to ICT Earlier, the Supreme Court officially launched the helpline service on 26 September 2024. Service recipients or trial seekers visiting the Bangladesh Supreme Court can contact the helpline number +88 01316154216 via phone call or WhatsApp for necessary information and advice regarding services. The helpline was introduced to assist individuals facing obstacles in receiving services at any branch of the Supreme Court Registry.

Former Fisheries and Livestock Minister and former district Awami League president Abdul Latif Biswas have been arrested on Sunday afternoon in Belkuchi, Sirajganj. Lieutenant Colonel Nahid Al Amin, the commanding officer of the Sirajganj Army Camp, said that Abdul Latif Biswas was taken to the army camp for interrogation based on various allegations. Details will be shared later after the interrogation, he added. It is noteworthy that Abdul Latif Biswas, a former Member of Parliament for Sirajganj-5 (Belkuchi and Chouhali), was also the former president of the district Awami League and the former chairman of the district council.

The High Court has directed authorities to take immediate steps to prevent the operation of illegal brick kilns in the hill districts of Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari. The Deputy Commissioners of these three districts have been instructed to take action within one week of receiving the order. The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury passed the order on Sunday. They have also been asked to submit a report on their actions within two weeks. Senior Advocate Manzil Morshed, along with Advocates Sanjay Mondal, Eklas Uddin Bhuiyan, Nasrin Sultana, and Selim Reza, represented the petitioners. Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Md Tanim Khan appeared for the state. 9 illegal brick kilns shut down, fined Tk 47 lakh in Sirajganj In 2022, Advocate Md. Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury, representing Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), filed a writ petition in the public interest to halt the operation of unlicensed and illegal brick kilns in the three hill districts. The respondents in the case include 24 individuals, including officials from the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Following the petition, the court issued a rule to stop the illegal brick kiln operations. However, since no appropriate action had been taken or progress reported by the defendants, HRPB filed another application seeking urgent intervention. The application highlighted the approaching brick production season (October 2024 to April 2025), during which illegal kilns are expected to resume operations. The petition argued that these unlicensed brick kilns pose a significant environmental threat. DCs asked to take steps to close illegal brick kilns, stop use of disposable plastic Advocate Manzil Morshed told reporters that if illegal brick kilns are allowed to operate, they will cause severe harm to the environment and public health. He said that preventing their operation is crucial to safeguarding both.

A Dhaka court on Sunday convicted three people and sentenced them to death for killing Ismail Hossain Jisan, a Civil Engineering student of European University of Bangladesh (EUB). Judge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Court-5, Farzana Yeasmin handed down the punishment. The condemned convicts are—Hasibul Hossain alias Hasib, son of Rafiqul Islam, Srabon Alias Shaon, son of Obaidullah Molla of Gopalganj district and Abdullah Al Noman, son of Zakir Hossain alias Khokon of Bagerhat district. Of them, Shaon tried in absentia. The court issued a warrant for the arrest of Shaon. Chattogram court turns down Chinmoy’s bail prayer in sedition case The court also acquitted another accused, Sajni Akter, as the allegations brought against her could not be proved. According to the prosecution, Jisan, who used to work in a bike sharing service Pathao, went missing from Shyamoli under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on May 12, 2019. Sabbir Hossain Sahid, father of Jisan filed a general diary with Gachha Police Station in Gazipur. He also lodged another general diary with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in this regard. On May 23, 2019, police recovered the decomposed body of Jisan from a septic tank of the house of Hasibul Hossain in Gazipur. Later, Jisan’s father filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. On January 12, 2020, Sub-inspector Sujanur Islam and also the investigating officer of the case submitted chargesheet against four people.